Best Lunch Spots Near Cleveland’s Jury Duty

When facing required work like jury duty, looking forward to a “little lunch” is a sure-fire way to keep your spirits up. Cleveland has a bunch of amazing lunch and dinner spots near Ontario Street where you might be serving jury duty. Legal proceedings from jury duty can last for days, but if you’re lucky, you can try all of these spots at least once before jury duty is over.

Pura Vida, or “pure life,” is a way of life for this unique restaurant on Euclid Avenue. Vegan and vegetarian friendly, Pura Vida serves breakfast, lunch and dinner items and caters for that long work day. If you’re skeptical about vegan fare, listen to these options: quinoa with roasted tofu, spicy bok choy all tossed in a carrot and ginger vinaigrette or an African peanut stew with sweet potatoes and curry. For those craving a simple protein, try the local chicken, grilled with spinach, goat cheese, cranberries and toasted pumpkin seeds. Lunch will never look the same after dining at Pura Vida.

The Nauti Mermaid is a great spot if you can sneak away from jury duty. It’s a veritable sunken ship in a historic old building on the busy street of West 6th. The Nauti Mermaid for lunch is perfect with options like crab cakes or hot crab dip with flatbread for an appetizer, a lobster BLT sandwich served with habanero mayo on wheat bread or a classic Maine lobster roll served on crusty bread with lettuce and tomato. The Natui Mermaid will have you forgetting your duties and sailing away.

Everybody’s a little Irish, right? Well in Cleveland you are so head to Flannery’s Pub for some authentic Irish entrees like Irish stew made with lamb, carrots, onions, celery and bell peppers finished with a puff pastry or the “bangers and mashed” sausage and mashed potatoes served with Guinness gravy, carrots and cabbage. If you’re in the mood for fish and chips or a burger, beef or veggie, then Flannery’s Pub is the place to be. And with true Irish hospitality, everybody’s welcome!

Johnny’s Little Bar is such a cult classic that it would take true destruction before this place ever closes. Head over to Frankfort Street, a side street often overlooked, and get ready for Johnny’s Downtown upscale cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere. The burgers are voted the best in the city from Scene magazine but you can also fine spaghetti with veal meatballs, a grilled strip steak sandwich with onions and peppers or veal parmesan with marinara.

A little spot waiting to be discovered is Tea House Noodles. The selection is endless, good for more than one day of jury duty, and the flavors will take you back to an exotic Asian realm. Choose from brown rice, Pad Thai noodles or vegetables and top them with sauces like the Indonesian curry with coconut, Japanese miso with shiitake mushrooms or ginger coconut sauce from Thailand with a splash of lime. Add your protein option of chicken, shrimp, tofu or beans and enjoy! Simple and absolutely delicious, Tea House Noodles will be your go-to spot when you need a quick healthy lunch with tons of flavor and just enough spice.

Marissa Burke is a happily adventurous wife, mother and runner. Living in Lakewood, Ohio she searches neighboring communities for exciting food and drinks that are good and good for you in the Cleveland area. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.